Device for guiding a body suspended from ropes when lowering said body

ABSTRACT

A load is lowered onto a platform under the guidance of a pivotal structure which carries a switch contact adapted for engaging the side of the platform. The switch controls the operation of a piston-cylinder arrangement such that when the switch contact is not engaged with the platform, the guide structure will be pivoted until the switch comes into contact with the platform, whereupon the piston-cylinder arrangement serves as a buffer resisting pivotal movement of the guide structure away from the platform.

United States Patent [191 Verschoof [451 July 10, 1973 DEVICE FOR GUIDING A BODY SUSPENDED FROM ROPES WHEN LOWERING SAID BODY 3,426,878 H1969 Campbell et a] 193/38 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner--Kenneth Noland Att0rney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT A load is lowered onto a platform under the guidance of a pivotal structure which carries a switch contact adapted for engaging the side of the platform. The switch controls the operation of a piston-cylinder arrangement such that when the switch contact is not engaged with the platform, the guide structure will be pivoted until the switch comes into contact with the platform, whereupon the piston-cylinder arrangement serves as a buffer resisting pivotal movement of the guide structure away from the platform.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SIEHIBFZ llllllllllllll llllllliilllllllnlllllll IIIIIIII I'll! VIII!llllllllll'llilllll'l n E III 1 DEVICE FOR GUIDING A BODY SUSPENDED FROM ROPES WHEN LOWERING SAID BODY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for guiding a body, particularly a container, suspended from ropes when lowering said body.

2. Prior Art Because of the increase in transportation with containers or loading boxes, there is a need to be able to unload said containers at the port of arrival within a very short period of time onto a means of conveyance for further transportation, by means of a hoisting device. Inasmuch as these means of conveyance are provided with loading platforms, onto which the containers have to be positioned very accurately and as these means for conveyance can seldom be placed in such a way with respect to the hoisting device that the container will come down precisely at their position by merely lowering them, it was heretofore necessary to maneuver the load with the hoisting device, which took considerable time and which was, therefore, disadvantageous for speeding up the handling of containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an effective device which guides the container when it is lowered onto a loading platform such that said container will reach precisely its position be merely lowering it with the, hoisting device.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a device which comprises a structure hinged at one end and connected to an operating cylinder, as a result of which said structure may be swung about its hinge joint, said structure being provided near its other end with a contact element, a control device being employed for the pressure fluid for the operating above itsposition on the loading platform or when the,

hoisting ropes should sway and as a consequence thereof, said container will be properly. guided to its position on the loading platform. When the container contacts the guiding structure, said structure may yield slightly because of the buffer action of the cylinder, as a result of which the contact element will be disengaged and the cylinder will reposition the guiding structure against the loading platform.

The control device for the pressure fluid of the operating cylinder comprises a four-way slide valve in the supply and discharge pipes to and from the operating cylinder and a pipe by-passing said valve extending between the chamber at one side of the cylinder and the supply of pressure fluid, wherein a throttle element is provided.

In a suitable manner, the base member from which the structure is suspended may consist of a bridging beam between the legs of a container bridge. Several spaced guiding devices may be mounted on said bridging beam of the container bridge so that containers of different lengths may be handled. I

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanyi'ngdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 isa diagrammatic view of the control device for the pressure fluid of the operating cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a base member 1 which is part of a container bridge. A structure 2 is mounted on said base I member 1, said structure 2 being permitted to swing about an axle 3. An operating; cylinder 4 is also mounted on the base member I, and the piston rod of the cylinder is connected with the structure 2. A contact element 5 is mounted at the lower end of the structure 2, element 5 being permitted to engage the loading platform 6 of a truck or similar vehicle. A load (not shown) to be deposited on the loading platform 6 is suspended from the container-bridge above the platform and is slowly lowered onto the platform from the bridge, the load being guided by structure 2 in the four-way slide valve 7 in the supply and discharge pipes 8 and 9 of the operating cylinder 4. Additionally, a pipe 10 is provided by-passing the valve 7 and extending from the chamber at the left side of the piston in the cylinder 4 to the supply of pressure fluid 11. A throttle element 12 isprovided in the pipe 10. When'a switch is closed to put the device into operation, a magnetic coil 13 isenergized through the closure of a push button as a result of which the valve 7 moves to the right and the pressure fluid is pumped from the supply 11 to the chamber in the cylinder 4 to the left side of the piston in FIG. 2. As a consequence, the piston and the piston rod will move to the right and the structure 2 is pressed against the loading platform 6. When the contact member 5 engages the loading platform 6, the contact element 5 will be actuated, whereby the magnetic coil 13 will be de-energized and the four'way valve 7 will assume a central position in which the supply of the pressure fluid through the pipe 8 is cut off. When the magnetic coils l3 and 14 are not energized, a safety device 17 will operate on a low pressure. When energized, the overflow pressure of the device is increased. The piston will then act as a buffer because the pressure fluid in the chamber atthe left side of the piston can flow only through the by-pass pipe I0 and the throttle element 12 to the supply 11. The supply of the fluid to the chamber of cylinder 4 at the right side of the piston is effected through the pipe 15 having a non-return valve 16. When the contact element 5 is released from the loading platform 6, the coil 13is energized again and the valve 7 will return again to the right-hand posi* tion, as a result of which the structure 2 will pivot to the right about axle 3 and the contact element 5 will again engage the loading platform 6. In this manner, the container is guided by the structure 2 when being lowered onto the loading platform 6 and it will, thus, reach its correct position on pins 18 which are provided on the I right side of the piston in FIG. 2.

It is also possible to provide a pressure accumulator instead of the throttle element 12, said accumulator naturally not being connected with the supply 11.

The base member 1 is in the form of a bridging beam extending between the legs of the container bridge, one

of which is shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1. It is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a plurality of traversely spaced guiding structures 2 between the legs of the bridge, all being pivotal about axle 3 under the action of a respective operating cylinder 4 and associated control device.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for guiding a body when said body is being lowered onto a platform said apparatus comprising a main support from which the body is to be loweredonto the platform, a pivotably mounted guiding structure on said main support adapted for guiding the body asit is beinglowered, operating cylinder means connected to said guiding structure to pivot the same in opposite directions, switch contact means on said structure adapted to be operated by contact with the platform,-and a control'means for regulating flow of pressure fluid to said'operating cylinder means, said switch contact =rneans being coupled to' said control means to operate the same and pressurize the cylinder means'when the switch contact means is not in contact with. the platform to cause the guiding structure to pivotably more towards said platform, said switch contact "means causing the control means to interrupt flow of pressure fluid to said operating cylinder means when the switch contact means is in contact with the platform whereupon said operating cylinder means serves-- as a buffer resisting pivotal displacement of theguiding structure away from the platform.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim '1 wherein said control means comprises a slide valve controlling flow of pressure fluid 'to and from the operating cylinder means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a supply pipe and a discharge pipe to and from the operating cylinder means and a supply of pressure fluid, said slide valve comprising a four-way valve controlling flow in said pipes in opposite directions of flow.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising a bypass pipe connected to said operating cylinder means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said operating cylinder means comprises a cylinder, and a double-acting piston in said cylinder defining chambers on opposite sides thereof, one chamber when pressurized acting on the piston to displace the guiding structure towards the platform,.the other chamber when pressurized acting on the piston to displace the guiding struc- I ture away from the platform,'said by-pass pipe being connected to said one chamber, and comprising throttle means in said by-pass pipe. f I v 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main support comprises a bridging beam supported between I the legs of a container bridge.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising-a'plu: rality of said guiding structures mounted in spaced rela- 

1. Apparatus for guiding a body when said body is being lowered onto a platform said apparatus comprising a main support from which the body is to be lowered onto the platform, a pivotably mounted guiding structure on said main support adapted for guiding the body as it is being lowered, operating cylinder means connected to said guiding structure to pivot the same in opposite directions, switch contact means on said structure adapted to be operated by contact with the platform, and a control means for regulating flow of pressure fluid to said operating cylinder means, said switch contact means being coupled to said control means to operate the same and pressurize the cylinder means when the switch contact means is not in contact with the platform to cause the guiding structure to pivotably more towards said platform, said switch contact means causing the control means to interrupt flow of pressure fluid to said operating cylinder means when the switch contact means is in contact with the platform whereupon said operating cylinder means serves as a buffer resisting pivotal displacement of the guiding structure away from the platform.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a slide valve controlling flow of pressure fluid to and from the operating cylinder means.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a supply pipe and a discharge pipe to and from the operating cylinder means and a supply of pressure fluid, said slide valve comprising a four-way valve controlling flow in said pipes in opposite directions of flow.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising a by-pass pipe connected to said operating cylinder means.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said operating cylinder means comprises a cylinder, and a double-acting piston in said cylinder defining chambers on opposite sides thereof, one chamber when pressurized acting on the piston to displace the guiding structure towards the platform, the other chamber when pressurized acting on the piston to displace the guiding structure away from the platform, said by-pass pipe being connected to said one chamber, and comprising throttle means in said by-pass pipe.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main support comprises a bridging beam supported between the legs of a container bridge.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising a plurality of said guiding structures mounted in spaced relation on said bridging beam between the legs of the container bridge. 